WC Road Swing, Game 5
Well another later afternoon start for the Yankees, the road trip is guaranteed to be a winning one
The Yankees have the opportunity today to win their fourth straight series ... and yes I realize it's against the A's and the M's ... but winning is winning, and after the dismal first five weeks, I'll take it
Inside, impressions of NYY at SEA (40/162)
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4:05PM HST
TOP 1: Mateo going for M's today, his first ever MLB start -- Jeter lays down a bunt towards third, the pitcher fields and puts him out -- Womack flies out to left center for the second out -- Sheffield flies to right to retire the side
BOT 1: Pavano going for Yankees today -- Ichiro flies to left, one pitch, one down -- Winn grounds to first, flips to Pavano early, he tags Winn for the second out -- Beltre goes down swinging to end the inning
4:18PM HST
TOP 2: Matsui rips one into right for a single -- ARod grounds a single through the left side and into leftfield, the runners moves up to second on the play
Runners at first and second for Tino, he flies to center, one down, the runner holds -- One down for Posada, he singled up the middle, the runner advances to second, one run scores, the Yankees strike first, 1-0
One down, runners at first and second for Giambi, he hits a bloop single to center that falls in the middle of the campfire defense, the runner advances to third, another run scores -- the NY lead is now 2-0
Runners now at the corners for Cano, he pops to short ... a pitch, an out, two away -- Jeter goes down swinging to end the rally
BOT 2: Full count to Sexson, the payoff pitch ... he goes down swinging, one away -- Ibanez grounds to first, two away -- On the 0-2 pitch, Boone is plunked on the elbow -- full count to Reed, the payoff is lined to center to end the inning
TOP 3: Womack fouls a bunt off, nice catch by the catcher to the right of the plate, one away -- Sheffield flies to right center, two down -- Matsui lines to right to end the inning
BOT 3: Olivo hits a sharp grounder to third, picked up on the short hop by ARod, he throws out Olivo, great glove work, one away -- Valdez grounds to short, two away -- Ichiro lines to short to end the inning
TOP 4: Full count to ARod, he pops out foul to first, one down -- one down for Tino, he draws a walk -- Posada flies to deep center, two away -- Giambi singles to right, Sojo will send Tino from third, Ichiro bobbles, one run scores, Yankees now 3-0
Two down, runner at first for Cano, he lines one into center for a single, the runner moves to third on the play -- Runners now at the corners for Jeter, he
grounds to short to end the rally
BOT 4: Winn grounds to short, one down -- Beltre also grounds to short, two down -- Sexson grounds one past the diving ARod, the M's first single of the game -- Two down, runner on first for Ibanez, he hits the first pitch through the right side and into right field, runner moves to second on the play
The two out hit parade against Yankee pitching this season continues ... Two down, runner at first and second for Boone, he goes down swinging to end the threat
5:19 PM HST
TOP 5: Womack lines one to right, great catch at the shoetops for Ichiro, one down -- Sheffield hits a slow roller to third, Beltre can't pick it barehanded, infield single -- One down, runner at first for Matsui, he flies out to center, two down -- Thornton warming in the Ms bullpen -- Two down for ARod, he absolutely rockets it, two run shot to left, the Yankee lead is now 5-0
Tino grounds to second to end the rally
BOT 5: Reed grounds to second, one down -- Olivo down swinging, two down -- Valdez hits a slow chopper to short, Jeter charges, and just gets him to end the inning
5:37 PM HST
TOP 6: Thornton takes over for the Ms at pitcher, and Hansen in as a defensive replacement at third -- Uno Dos Adios, Posada down swinging, one away -- one down for Giambi, he deposits the 0-1 into the rightfield seats, the NY lead is now 6-0
Cano down swinging, two away -- Jeter grounds to short to retire the side
BOT 6: Ichiro grounds to third, one away -- Winn grounds to second, two down -- Hansen flies to left to end the inning
TOP 7: Womack hits a pop foul to third, one out -- Sheffield draws a walk -- One down for Matsui, he works a full count, but goes down swinging on the payoff, two away -- Runner at first, two down for ARod, he flies to deep left center to end the inning
Seventh Inning Stretch, Yankees lead, 6-0
BOT 7: Sexson grounds to third, one away -- Ibanez hits the 1-2 really hard ... but foul to right, on the next pitch, he goes down swinging, two away -- Two out for Boone, he singles to left ... yet another two out single -- Reed grounds to second to end the inning
TOP 8: Tino is down swinging, one out -- Posada goes the opposite way and singles to right -- Runner at first, one down for Giambi, he fouls out to third, two away -- Cano goes down on a checkswing to retire the side
BOT 8: Olivo grounds to third, one away -- Valdez grounds to short, one pitch, another one down, two away -- Ichiro goes down swinging to end the inning
TOP 9: Villone in to pitch for M's -- Jeter flies to the track in deep center, one out -- Uno dos adios, Womack is frozen pizza, two away -- Sheffield draws a walk -- runner at first, two down for Matsui, he bloops out to second to retire the side
BOT 9: Pavano is out to chase the CG shutout -- Winn grounds to short, one pitch, one down -- full count to Hansen, he grounds a single to center -- Runner on first for Sexson, one down, Pavano gets into a second straight full count, quality AB for Sexson that results in a single to left, the runner to second on the play
Torre is out to confer with Pavano to see if he wants to stay in, Pavano will continue -- Quantrill and Rivera warming -- runners now first and second, one down -- Ibanez goes down swinging at a pitch in the dirt, two away -- two down, two out for Boone, he flies out to the rightfield corner to end the game
Pavano throws 133 pitches, scatters 5 hits and pitches a complete game shutout, and gets his season high in strikeouts with seven
6:45PM HST
FINAL: Yankees win, 6-0
The Yankees have ensured their fourth consecutive series win -- The formula for this streak has been laid out, quality starts, timely hitting, and solid bullpen work
Tomorrow the road swing ends, Mussina will start for the Yankees and Moyer will get the start for the M's
21 UP 19 DOWN ... the streak is now 10
The last time the Yankees won ten straight was in the WS championship season of 1998, where the Yankees won 114 regular season games (125 overall)